Monthly Newsletter & Job Lead Bulletin

UPCOMING EVENTS

Job Search Kick-Start Class

LinkedIn Training Webinar

Telling Your Professional Story Workshop

While the final details of the session are still in development, I'm excited to be partnering up with professional speech coach Leo Novsky in the near future to offer a special six-hour workshop on how to "tell your professional story" in a powerful way!

This workshop, the culmination of some great feedback we've received on shorter training sessions, will be taking place in late February or early March (date TBD) and will provide a comprehensive set of advice
on how one can weave effective storytelling methods into their resume and LinkedIn profile -- as well as (Leo's focus) interviewing and networking scenarios.

So at this stage, while I'd hoped to have a few further details to announce (we're still finalizing the exact date/venue), I wanted to alert everybody that this special event is in development -- and if you'd like to receive more details about the class, as soon as they're finalized, please e-mail me here and let me know!

Editor's Note:

Some say Plato said it. Others attribute it to Scottish author Ian McLaren. But regardless of the source, when it comes to the job search process (or even the state of the country at large right now) I think we'd all be wise to ponder the quote: "Be kind, for everybody you meet is fighting a hard battle."

Simply put, the concept of empathy -- and going the extra mile to understand another's point of view -- can be an invaluable ingredient of success when scouting for a new job opportunity. Sure, it can be a challenge to avoid obsessing about your own issues,
fears, and emotions when dealing with the uncertainty of unemployment. But the more you can combat these tendencies, and pay attention to the motivations and needs of those around you, as well, the better your odds of success will be.

For example, many job hunters express tremendous frustration about abrupt treatment from recruiters, lack of feedback from HR people, distracted behavior from hiring managers, and the like. Or they might struggle to relate to fellow job hunters. Or to forgive friends who don't follow through on referrals. Or to deal with bouts of nagging and pressure potentially put on them by a spouse or family member.

And yet, while some of this frustration may be fully justified, I rarely come across people who seem to be actively trying
to understand the other person's perspective as a first course of action. And without being able to emphatically understand why other people act the way they do, it's hard to build rapport with them -- or alter your approach in way that will more likely get you the results you're seeking.

What is the other person's day typically like? What deadlines/pressures are they facing? Can you curry favor by cutting them some slack and being gracious when their priorities need to change?

What pain points or problems might the other individual be wrestling with? What's keeping them up at night? Could you score points showing them how you can take certain worries off their plate?

How is the other person being measured and incentivized? How do they get rewarded? Could this have anything to do with why their behavior may not match what you expect?

Could there be personal issues in play? Family dynamics distracting them? Health issues taking a toll? Could they just be having a bad day and you got the brunt of it through no fault of your own?

What other factors might be going on behind the scenes? Could there be a political disagreement at higher levels? A strategy change? A budgeting issue? An internal candidate suddenly coming into play? Are you "shooting the messenger" when in reality, the person across the table is not the cause of the problem -- and is likely just as frustrated as you are about the situation?

So while sure, there might be a few sociopaths out there whose behavior is beyond excusable, I tend to have a little more faith in people. In general, I think most individuals behave in the exact same way that you or me would, in most cases, were we to trade places with them and be subject to the exact same forces, incentives, and
motivations.

So give it some thought -- and see if a little bit of humor in a cover letter, an empathetic question or two in an interview, an extra gesture of respect, or a kind word to a fellow job hunter might produce a positive result. These little things count.

P.S. Oh yes, and for those regular readers of my newsletter who remember the "contest" I held last month -- asking people if they could identify the silver monument outside my window -- I contacted the building owner, who informed me that:

"The Van de Graaff generator shown in that photo is a one-of-a-kind art installation that Intellectual Ventures founder Nathan Myhrvold acquired from American artist Jim Sanborn. The sculpture, previously on exhibit at the
Museum of Contemporary Art, recreates a 1939 experiment at the Carnegie Institution and serves as a reminder about the power of invention."

Job Leads via Our Network

These opportunities are ones we've heard about through the grapevine; we have further details on hand for most of them, so click on the links provided, to start, and if you'd like some further info regarding them, let us know!

Job Leads via Recruiters

These opportunities are ones that have been sent to us via our friends in the staffing and recruiting industry. If you're interested in any of these, just click the link provided to find out more information and/or apply!

Job Leads via the Web

These opportunities represent a "curated" set of openings we've found via local employer websites, many of which typically aren't published on the typical job board circuit. For information on any of these openings, simply click on the links provided!